LiberatED Podcast

Sabrina Reynolds is the founder of Mastery Learning Academy, a first through twelfth grade microschool in Taylorsville, Utah outside of Salt Lake City that focuses on core academic content within a classical-inspired, project-based learning environment.  Sabrina has a Master’s degree in secondary education and taught in both public and private schools for almost 20 years before launching Mastery Learning Academy in 2019. Her school was almost shut down last spring for a zoning issue, but a new microschool bill passed by the Utah legislature saved it. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Candice Hilton left her job as a public school teacher last year and just opened her K-8 microschool, Hilton Horizons Academy, in Kingsport, Tennessee. Tuition for the three-day program is $4,900 a year. All 12 of Hilton’s students are legally homeschooled, with the vast majority of them new to homeschooling this academic year after being in public school.  Check out Kerry's new article at The 74 on "New Microschools for a New School Year," featuring Hilton Horizons Academy. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.  

LiberatED Education Associate Nasiyah Isra-Ul interviews Sumay and Aila Lu, the cofounders of the WEquil App educational platform and its virtual school, WEquil School.  For Sumay and Aila, ages 15 and 12 respectively, creating a virtual school, and later a wider community platform, was inspired by their journey from public school into unconventional education during the pandemic. Their edtech platform currently has over 2,400 registered users. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.  

Tobin Slaven is an educator, entrepreneur, and author who has joined our team as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence. He is the co-founder of Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale in Florida, which is part of the fast-growing Acton Academy network of hundreds of learner-driven schools across the US and globally. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Michelle Lee Thompson is the founder of Hand In Hand Christian Montessori in Minnesota. She launched Hand in Hand in 1999 as a small summer camp and today it has three campuses serving infants to teens with both full-time private school options and part-time homeschool programs. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Dr. Erin Flynn is a longtime educator and founder of the Hedge School Cooperative, an inclusive, secular, LGBTQIA-welcoming microschool for homeschoolers in Austin, Texas. The school offers two to four days of in-person instruction for 8th-12th graders. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Nasiyah Isra-Ul is a young entrepreneur and innovator who has joined our team as the new LiberatED Education Associate, in partnership with Stand Together's Koch Associate Program. Nasiyah launched her own education business as a teen, for which she has won many awards and accolades. She is passionate about youth entrepreneurship, student agency, and education innovation and choice. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Founded by Amir Nathoo in 2015, Outschool.com offers live, video-enabled online classes for young people ages 3 to 18. Learners can select content ranging from typical academic subjects and tutoring services, to more adventurous classes such as pet-trick training, forensic science, engineering with Minecraft, and wilderness survival skills. Instructors create their own courses based on their own interests and expertise, and set their own prices. Many choose to teach on Outschool.com to share their knowledge and passions within a creative and flexible learning environment. I first interviewed Amir back in 2019 for an article at Forbes and I am so honored to speak with him again today as he shares his founder story and tell us more about Outschool.com's past, present, and future. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Shante Lane Tamerat, co-founder of Discovery Lane, a Reggio Emilia-inspired microschool in Maryland, shares her 15-year journey in education. She discusses the need for inclusive spaces for special needs and neurodiverse students, focusing on child-centered learning. Shante details the challenges of adapting education post-pandemic, including zoning laws and community support. She emphasizes the shift toward learner-centered models and the vital role of autonomy in children's learning while balancing familial ties and professionalism in running a microschool.

Today's guest is Hannah Holguin, founder of Masterpiece Academy located just outside of Omaha, Nebraska. Hannah was a public school teacher for nearly a decade, mostly teaching mathematics. She has also worked as an adjunct professor with a local community college, and founded Masterpiece Academy in August of 2022 as a K-12 microschool for homeschoolers with both full-time and part-time enrollment options. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.